The Fish Dragon Gang, with over thirty members, had drawn the short straw in having Xiao Qiang as their deputy chief, a man who was both ungrateful and harbored wolfish ambitions. Yet in the eyes of Xiao Ling and the entire Xiao family, Xiao Qiang was undoubtedly a devoted father. If the Fish Dragon Gang, having switched allegiances, had the chance to dominate the martial world of Lingzhou, most of the remaining members, even if they learned the truth, would feign ignorance unless directly involved. They would continue to feel grateful and hold Xiao Qiang and his son Xiao Ling in high esteem.
A burly bandit chief wielding a long, broad saber admired the harmonious atmosphere and found himself warming to the otherwise disagreeable Xiao Qiang. He joked, “Chief Xiao, you wouldn’t know, but around here it’s hard to find a girl worth even a few trained horses. Unless she’s a noblewoman from the Northern Mannerlands, the most a pretty girl can fetch is half a trained horse. But Song Dia’er this time is so taken with that Liu girl that he’d rather forgo horses altogether. Tell me, Chief Xiao, is she really that stunning—so beautiful she could make fish sink and geese fall from the sky?”
Another bandit chief, barehanded and grinning, teased, “Oh, Old Coin, I didn’t know you knew such refined expressions. You’re getting quite the scholar these days.”
The saber-wielding man, surnamed Qian and nicknamed “Old Coin” for his insatiable greed, spat a wad of phlegm and laughed, “I’ll have you know I even know your wife’s breasts are big. Heh, I just smeared a bunch of spit on them last night.”
The mocked bandit wasn’t offended. He smirked, “Old Coin, your daughter may be ugly, but her ass is huge—she’ll definitely bear sons. I’ve always had a thing for a nice round butt. You know, the old man pushing the cart—bam, bam, bam, it’s a real thrill! Old Coin, when are you gonna let me call you Father-in-law?”
Old Coin stomped on his saber, a weapon once used to stuff silver coins down a man’s throat until he died. He cursed, “Go to hell! If you dare defile my daughter, I’ll stuff you full of silver!”
Xiao Qiang inwardly loathed the bandits’ vulgar behavior, but out of respect for Song Dia’er, he refrained from showing his displeasure. His expression grew cold as he said flatly, “Brother Song’s taste is naturally excellent.”
Song Dia’er, a man of refined sensibilities who had once studied extensively and nearly became an official in the Northern Mannerlands, was far more tactful than these coarse men. He interjected, “Enough idle chatter and nonsense. Let’s get down to business. After this big job, we’ve all shared a bond. We each have our own accounts of grievances, and I hope we can all agree to forgive a few of those messy debts in light of the thousands of taels of silver we’ll each pocket. Also, if there’s another hot deal in the future, don’t just try to hog it. Let’s work together. It’s better to count our silver at home than to scheme against each other. What do you say?”
Li Heita was the first to nod. Old Coin and the scar-faced man followed suit.
Xiao Qiang felt a pang of sadness. Liu Niran had grown up under his watchful eye, and for a long time, he had even considered pairing her with Xiao Ling. Alas, not every childhood sweetheart grows into a loving couple. Xiao Qiang didn’t blame Liu Niran for looking down on Xiao Ling. In truth, Xiao Ling himself looked down on Liu Niran, calling her a spoiled lady with a servant’s fate. Xiao Qiang shook his head, brushing away the melancholy. He was getting old, and Liu Niran’s fate, whether good or ill, paled in comparison to his own family’s prosperity. At this thought, his eyes gleamed like an owl’s. The bandits, who had previously underestimated the old swordsman, felt a chill. Though they appeared carefree, each had been secretly watching Xiao Qiang and Song Dia’er, wary of being betrayed and robbed by Song.
Xiao Qiang seemed to recall something and smiled darkly, “There’s also a young man from the General’s Mansion— Xu, carries a saber, and has the bearing of a nobleman. If you want no loose ends, this one must be killed thoroughly!”
Song Dia’er grinned and pointed at the scarred bandit chief, “No problem. As long as he’s handsome, Brother Wang here has no preference for gender. I know Wang brought along a fresh-faced young man who’s terrible at martial arts but apparently very obedient in bed. He gets called on every night by Brother Wang.”
Brother Wang’s interest was piqued, and he didn’t deny his preference for both sexes. He grinned at Xiao Qiang and asked, “Oh? Is he really that good-looking? Chief Xiao, don’t be pulling my leg. If you get me worked up and there’s no way to let off steam, I’ll have to do what Old Coin does with a pork strip and a hole again!”
The group burst into laughter, even Xiao Qiang couldn’t help but chuckle.
A warm, mellow voice cut through the air, “Brother Wang, what do you think of my looks?”
Almost instantly, Xiao Qiang drew his sword and stood up. Li Heita gripped his twin axes and glared. Old Coin flicked his saber with his foot, holding it at the ready.
Brother Wang, the scarred man, was startled at being addressed directly, but upon recognizing the speaker, his eyes lit up with excitement.
Only Song Dia’er remained still, holding a finely carved jade pendant in one hand and whistling softly with the other. He finally looked up at Xiao Qiang’s back and said, “Brother Xiao, could it be that you and the Fish Dragon Gang have set a trap for us? That doesn’t make sense. What would you gain from it? And the Fish Dragon Gang only has thirty-some men. Even if only the four of us are here tonight, you can’t guarantee we all die here. If even one escapes…”
At this, Li Heita set down one of his axes and placed his hand over his chest, grinning sinisterly as he interrupted Song Dia’er, “If one escapes, he’ll want revenge, no doubt. He’ll try to take over the others’ men and loot their corpses. Song Dia’er, don’t play dumb—you and that old turtle Xiao and the Fish Dragon Gang are the ones who set us up! But Song Dia’er, Song Dia’er, did you really think you were the only one who brought men here?”
Song Dia’er merely waved a hand and smiled gently, “Though we agreed only five would meet here, and our men were to stay five miles away, it’s only natural that we’d have our men inch closer in secret. I understand this perfectly well. Li Heita, don’t be so quick to light your signal flare—it might ruin everything. Let Brother Xiao explain first.”
At that moment, an outsider’s words had sparked a farcical internal conflict among the five.
Xiao Qiang stared at the saber-wielding youth, who should not have been there under any circumstances. He turned and smiled bitterly at Song Dia’er, “Brother Song, how could I betray you? This is the very Xu fellow. I don’t know how he followed us here. If he brought the Fish Dragon Gang with him, our plans would be ruined. If that’s the case, I’ll even forgo the four thousand taels of silver as compensation to you four!”
The newcomer was none other than the Crown Prince himself.
Xu Fengnian clapped and laughed, “Chief Xiao, your decisiveness is admirable. You’ve truly opened my eyes to the ways of a true leader. Just witnessing your ruthless methods is worth giving you the entire shipment for free. But I’m afraid you won’t live long enough to enjoy it.”
Brother Wang laughed wildly, “You talk bigger than Song Dia’er, kid! I like that!”
Xiao Qiang frowned, “You didn’t tell Liu Niran and Gong Sunyang?”
Xu Fengnian narrowed his eyes, “Does it matter whether they know or not? Remember, the gods are watching from three feet above your head.”
The three bandit chiefs exchanged puzzled glances. Was this kid out of his mind? What was he babbling about?
Song Dia’er seemed amused. He finally stood up, fastening the jade pendant at his waist, tightening the red rope and tying a slipknot. Then he looked up at Xu Fengnian, “This young master, since you dared to come alone, it seems Chief Xiao underestimated your strength. ‘The gods are watching from three feet above your head’? They might not believe it, but I do. Still, belief and fear are different. Now, I’m most curious whether you’ve underestimated our abilities. If you have, your fate might be quite grim.”
After speaking, Song Dia’er pointed at Brother Wang, the meaning clear.
Xu Fengnian didn’t waste words on these men who had long since tied their lives to their belts. He extended two fingers, leaving only a narrow gap, and smiled, “What if I’m just a hair’s breadth away from the Jinguang realm? Would you run?”
He paused, then asked again, “Could you run?”
It was shaping up to be a night full of surprises.
Xiao Qiang and the four hardened bandits were all tempted to laugh at this, and even Song Dia’er thought the young man must be mad.
There were very few Jinguang-level martial artists in the world, and most were either reclusive hermits, hidden figures in sects, or honored guests of the imperial court. Finding one was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Even Song Dia’er and his companions, seasoned as they were, had only seen one such master in their lifetimes—Xiao Qiang had once glimpsed a Jinguang-level swordsman in his youth, and Song Dia’er had seen a second-tier master in the Northern Mannerlands capital, one who was just a step away from Jinguang. But that old master had already been in his sixties, his power earned through years of cultivation. How old was this saber-wielding youth? Barely past his coming-of-age ceremony?
As Xu Fengnian spoke, he was already surrounded by the five men.
Once martial artists reach a certain level, even if they were strangers moments ago, they can coordinate seamlessly.
Brother Wang struck first, his scarred face twisted in fury, his fists aimed straight at Xu Fengnian’s chest.
The saber-wielding bandit swung his blade in a wide arc, the air splitting with the force.
Xiao Qiang, trying to prove his innocence, drew his sword and prepared to unleash his signature move, the Whirling Swallow, ready to sever the young man’s limbs at the first opening.
Brother Wang’s fists were fast but held back some strength, clearly intending to let the saber force the youth to dodge before delivering a crushing blow. But when the youth showed no reaction to the saber aimed at his waist, Wang committed fully, unleashing ninety percent of his strength.
The remaining ten percent was a precaution in case Old Coin’s saber lost control and sliced both him and the youth in two.
The change in force also altered the momentum of the punch, but Brother Wang saw that the youth remained motionless, and he felt a pang of frustration—his well-planned strike was wasted. This kid must be too clueless to even realize the danger!
As Brother Wang’s fists neared the youth’s chest, he felt a surge of triumph—until he sensed something wrong. The saber’s cold aura should not have weakened. Was Old Coin pulling back? In an instant, Brother Wang decided not to care about Old Coin’s schemes. He would crush the youth’s chest with his fists.
Xiao Qiang and Song Dia’er, the two most skilled among them, both felt a sudden, sharp intuition of danger.
Xu Fengnian sidestepped casually, his hands gripping Brother Wang’s arms, pulling him forward in a stumble. As Brother Wang flew forward, Xu Fengnian shifted his stance in rapid, small steps, creating a dizzying blur. Then, with a swift upward knee strike, he shattered Brother Wang’s chest. As the bandit chief was sent flying upward, Xu Fengnian twisted his head in a full circle, sending the 170-pound man spinning through the air. Xu Fengnian stepped back slightly, raised his leg, and slammed the unfortunate man into the ground. The speed and force were so great that Brother Wang had no time to gather his strength, and the knee strike had shattered his chest and spirit. When his body hit the ground, his limbs twitched upward before falling limply, and he was dead.
Old Coin, who had fled the scene, was sweating profusely, muttering, “It’s not that I was scared and pulled back my saber. It’s just that this kid was too strange. My blade was inches from him, but it just stopped—it wouldn’t cut any further!”
“Strange?”
Xu Fengnian smiled and placed his foot on Brother Wang’s head, pressing down harder. Surprisingly, the skull was tougher than the ground, and it slowly sank into the earth.
Xiao Qiang felt a chill run through him, but his grip on the sword remained steady. A seasoned swordsman knows the meaning of defeat before the battle even begins.
Song Dia’er furrowed his brow and said grimly, “Together!”
Li Heita spun his axes and grinned, “Fine!”
Before he even finished speaking, the man farthest from Xu Fengnian, the Crown Prince, leapt backward. Despite his bulky frame, he moved as lightly as a feather, revealing excellent footwork.
Song Dia’er did not show surprise or anger; instead, a sinister and ruthless gleam flickered in his eyes.
Li Heita retreated swiftly, but Xu Fengnian pursued even faster. As the young prince dashed past Lao Tongqian at a distance of less than five steps, the hardened horsebandit, who had killed countless men, stood frozen in place, letting Xu pass without daring to move.
Only then did Li Heita realize that his petty tricks might cost him his life. Knowing escape was impossible, he gritted his teeth, abruptly halted his retreat, and landed heavily on both feet. He still slid for a distance, leaving two deep grooves on the ground, using the momentum to gather strength. As the merciless young killer approached, Li swung his twin axes in a crossing motion, the force surpassing even the double punches of the scar-faced man. Li, who relied solely on his three simple axe techniques, naturally had his merits. Yet the young swordsman, who never even drew his blade, seemed overly arrogant. The twin axes carved through the air, shifting their trajectory seven or eight times, crashing down with terrifying momentum. The young man, however, did not retreat or dodge. Instead, he raised both arms in a mighty, upward motion, like a mythical hero lifting a cauldron, meeting the axes head-on!
Li Heita, deeply insulted, roared, “Die!”
But there was no familiar sound of flesh and bone being severed, nor the legendary clang of unbreakable metal.
Li Heita bore the pain in silence.
The Xuanyang Axe and the Jinque Mountain Axe felt as if they had sunk into a mass of cotton—invisible yet real. He finally understood what Lao Tongqian meant by “strange and sinister.” Had this youth’s qi truly overflowed so immensely beyond his body? Qi, more precious than gold or silver in the eyes of ordinary men, was something countless martial cultivators spent their entire lives seeking. Many never even grasped its existence. A few lucky ones, guided by masters and possessing secret manuals, could vaguely sense a warm current flowing through their meridians and bones, but mastering how to gather and use it was another perilous gate few could cross. And to control its ebb and flow at will? That was a near-impossible feat. Yet this youth, whom he had to fight with his life, could actually let his qi flow outward in a controlled manner—wasn’t that the legendary Realm of the Diamond Body (Jin Gang Jing), the Diamond Realm?
How could Li Heita not feel inferior and jealous beyond reason? Like a poor man who toils day and night, suddenly seeing a rich man casually feasting atop a mountain of gold and silver—how could such a sight not drive one mad with envy?
Abandoning his three-axe technique, Li Heita focused all his strength into pressing his twin axes downward. His dark face turned a sickly crimson, as if even the strength he had saved since infancy was now being poured into this critical moment.
In just three inches of distance, Li Heita’s axes seemed to descend for an eternity—not a strike anymore, but a relentless downward push.
His heels lifted off the ground. With a maddened roar, the axes finally touched the young bastard’s sleeve!
The sleeve tore, the cold edge of the axe grazed the skin. Li Heita, like one possessed, bared his teeth, his eyes wide, his entire body’s qi surging like boiling water into his arms.
Xu Fengnian slightly furrowed his brow, then shook both arms, sending the axes flying back.
He kicked Li Heita in the chest, whose hands were already torn and bleeding. The muscular man toppled backward.
Xu Fengnian easily seized Li Heita’s wrist, twisted it, and snapped it. Taking the Xuanyang and Jinque axes, he spun them around, now holding both axes himself, facing Li Heita.
Dazed, Li Heita used his elbows to push himself up and turned to flee.
Without hesitation, Xu Fengnian hurled one axe, burying it into Li Heita’s back. The dark-skinned giant was propelled forward by the force. Another axe struck him in the head.
The corpse collapsed to the ground.
Dead beyond any doubt.
Xu Fengnian glanced at his arm and muttered with a self-deprecating smile, “Still not the true Diamond Realm yet.”
Lao Tongqian turned pale, watching this devil who had killed two men as easily as strolling through a garden approach him. He had been about to pull out a signal fire tube from his robe but, caught in the act, withdrew his hand as if burned. He even abandoned his pitted sword, knelt, and kowtowed desperately, “Great hero, spare my life! I have elders to care for and children to raise. It’s hard enough making a living on the border! I was blinded by greed and dared to scheme against the Yulong Gang. Master Xu, you are noble and forgiving. Today’s misdeed was all plotted by Song Dia’er and Xiao Qiang. The blame lies with them! If you must kill or punish someone, go after those two first! I beg you on my knees…”
Lao Tongqian babbled, kowtowing nonstop.
“Fine, I’ll deal with those two next.”
As Xu Fengnian spoke, he sensed the abnormal flow of qi in the bandit’s body. Bowing his head concealed the sinister gleam in his eyes, but the tension in his fists betrayed his killing intent. The young prince smirked coldly, leaving no chance for the bandit leader to strike. With a single kick, he sent the man’s head flying from his shoulders, rolling in a trail of blood until it stopped at Xiao Qiang’s feet.
Xiao Qiang’s eyes widened, bloodshot, but he dared not look at the severed head at his feet. He only glared at the young nobleman from the General’s Mansion.
Three of the five were dead. Song Dia’er remained calm, though he had lost his earlier air of effortless confidence. With bitterness, he said, “Master Xu, since you are already a Diamond Realm cultivator, why bother with us lowly insects? If you spare Song Dia’er’s life, I will personally kill Xiao Qiang, and gather the wealth of the three fallen men to hand over to you. From now on, my descendants will build you a shrine and keep your incense burning forever!”
Xiao Qiang, sword trembling, roared, “Song Dia’er, you are worse than a pig or a dog!”
Song Dia’er ignored him completely, carefully bowing low toward the mysterious young killer. Seeing the nobleman, who wore a saber but had never drawn it even halfway, remain expressionless, he continued, “If you are still not satisfied after I kill Xiao Qiang, I will sever my own arm as a sign of sincere apology.”
Xu Fengnian smiled and said, “Fine.”
Then he witnessed a tragic spectacle of brother turning on brother.
After a stick of incense burned, the master swordsman Xiao Qiang lay in a pool of blood, barely breathing.
Song Dia’er, known more for his schemes than martial prowess, turned out to be a near Second-Rank expert, wielding a flexible sword at his waist. It seemed that even a scholarly, bookish type could earn respect from pure martial artists if they truly applied themselves. But Song Dia’er was not unscathed—his scholar’s robe was torn, and he sat cross-legged, battered and exhausted.
Xu Fengnian approached the wheezing Xiao Qiang, crouched beside him, and chuckled, “Fighting desperately against a lifelong brother, only to die by his hand—how does it feel? I know you have a capable son, and that your betrayal of the Yulong Gang was to support Xiao Ling. Don’t worry, I’ll give the boy a chance. I’ll write him a secret letter in your style and handwriting. If he doesn’t take the bait and doesn’t want to become the new leader of the Yulong Gang, then you can die for the Gang, like Wang Dashi’s father, and Xiao Ling can live the rest of his life in peace. But if he gets greedy…”
The answer was obvious.
Xiao Qiang knew his son’s nature all too well. He could not speak, only blood gushed from his mouth—clearly furious, though he no longer had the strength to rage.
Xu Fengnian pointed upward and said flatly, “I know you want to accuse me of being unreasonable, but why should I be reasonable to someone like you?”
Xiao Qiang died with his eyes wide open.
Whether the old swordsman, who had narrowly escaped death and tasted fleeting glory, felt regret for every step he had taken, no one would ever know.
Seeing Xu Fengnian rise and turn, Song Dia’er wiped blood from his lips, smiling with a forced calm, “May I beg for a few more words, Master Xu? I know my fate is sealed. But rather than die easily, I would rather display all my skills, even if it seems like showing off before a master. I did not even consider sending a message to the Thirty-Six Riders, for I feared my brothers would die in vain. One of them, the second-in-command, has secretly loved my concubine-wife for years, but out of respect for our brotherhood, he never acted on it. I believe even if I die here today, he will bury me properly and never touch her. On the border, men like him are rarer than a Diamond Realm swordsman like you. The youngest among us is only sixteen, and I’ve only taught him forty-some characters. A pity…”
Song Dia’er rambled for a full stick of incense. Though he was not finished, when he sensed Xu Fengnian’s qi shift, he obediently closed his eyes, truly ready to die.
It felt like an eternity. Song Dia’er opened his eyes instinctively, glancing far away, and saw the saber-wielding noble still standing in place.
In the next moment, Song Dia’er, who had just returned from the gates of hell, stiffened entirely, chilled to the bone. The terror in his heart was deeper than when he had seen the youth kill three comrades, deeper than when he heard the calm voice sentence Xiao Qiang to a slow death, even deeper than when he closed his eyes and waited for death!
A jade-green, translucent short sword hovered just before his brow!
The two-inch blade trembled slightly.
Because it was so close, Song Dia’er had not even noticed it at first.
Flying sword!
Song Dia’er wept with joy, laughing maniacally.
A flying sword! Truly a flying sword!
He was a swordsman, one who had pursued the sword path relentlessly all his life.
To witness the legendary flying sword technique of an immortal in his lifetime—though he may die, he would have no regrets! No regrets? Who among bandits was a saint?
The young noble, who clearly wielded a saber, raised his arm slightly, and the two-inch flying sword vanished in a flash.
Xu Fengnian slowed his breathing, calmly saying, “Song Dia’er, if you had silver, trained horses, and a powerful backer, could you control a small mountain stronghold of three hundred riders?”
Song Dia’er was stunned, momentarily unable to respond.
Xu Fengnian suppressed a rising warmth in his throat, frowning, “Once you recover from your wounds, go to Youzhou and find a man named Huangfu Ping, the resolute commander there. Tell him Xu sent you. Ask him for men, money, and horses—he will give you all. If I return and find you’ve done a sloppy job, don’t think building me a hundred shrines will save you and your Thirty-Six Brothers. You’ll all still die.”
Xu Fengnian turned around, not wiping the blood slowly trickling from his nose. Mentally cursing, he thought, “Pretending to be a peerless expert is no easy task. Just to show off that flying sword display, my internal qi has surged like the great tides of Guangling. If I keep this up, I’ll be exposed.”
But to Song Dia’er’s eyes, this Xu young master, even if he walked slowly, seemed like an immortal descending from the heavens—graceful, refined, and ethereal.
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